JP2003341845A - Parts supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a parts supplying device with simple structure and saving space. <P>SOLUTION: This device includes a tray housing portion 2 for housing the parts supply trays 1 for stackingly holding parts, a horizontal conveying portion 3 placed at a predetermined height position of the housing portion 2 movable in a horizontal direction, an elevatable elevating bottom wall 4 forming a bottom wall of the housing portion 2, a separating means 5 for separating a parts supply tray 1 within the portion 3 from other trays 1 positioned on upper stages of the tray 1. In the device, the tray 1 as a conveyance target having been moved to the portion 3 by moving up/down the whole trays 1 within the housing portion 2 by the wall 4 is conveyed horizontally to a predetermined position at the conveying portion 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a component supply device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a component supply device using a tray as a holder for supply components, the one described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-310325 is known. In this conventional example, the component supply device is configured to have storage areas for storing the component-supplied trays in which the components are stored and the empty trays in a stacked state. The parts are supplied by first moving the parts-supplied trays extracted from the parts-supplied trays stacking section that is held on the stock conveyor to a predetermined position by the lifter, and the empty trays use the discharge conveyor. It is stacked and stored in the storage area (stock section) of the empty tray.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the component supply device has the component-supplied tray stacking portion and the empty tray stock portion with the stepped dispersal portion and the stacking portion having a complicated structure. In addition to the above, there is a problem that the entire structure becomes complicated because a plurality of drive systems for transporting the tray are required. Further, since the stock portion and the tray stacking portion are arranged with a predetermined gap, there is a problem that the size of the entire apparatus becomes large.

The present invention has been made to solve the above drawbacks, and an object of the present invention is to provide a component supply device having a simple structure and capable of saving space.

[0005]

Parts to be supplied to an automatic machine or the like are aligned and held on a part supply tray 1 and stacked and stored in a tray storage section 2. It suffices that the tray storage unit 2 can hold a plurality of component supply trays 1 in a stacked state, and can be formed as, for example, a cylinder having a side wall portion or only a skeleton that guides the four corners of the component supply tray 1. .

When the component supply tray 1 is supplied to an automatic machine or the like, first, the elevating bottom wall 4 of the tray storage unit 2 is driven up and down to make the component supply tray 1 holding the components correspond to the horizontal transport unit 3. Then, the separation means 5 is used to separate the supply target tray from the other component supply trays 1 positioned on the upper stage thereof, and then the horizontal conveyance section 3 horizontally conveys it to a predetermined position.

The empty tray after the supply of the parts is returned to the tray storage part 2 by the horizontal transfer part 3 again, and then the same procedure as described above is repeated, so that the parts are separated by the horizontal transfer part 3 on one side. The supplied tray and the empty tray are stored in the other tray.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the trays for which the parts have been supplied and the empty trays can be vertically stacked and stored, the device can be downsized. Further, since the movement of the tray in which the predetermined components have been supplied to the pulling-out position and the movement of the empty tray to the collecting position are all performed by driving the elevating bottom wall 4, the number of driving units is reduced and the structure is simplified. .

[0009]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of the present invention configured as a screw supply device for supplying a screw to a multi-axis screw tightener. In this embodiment, the screw supply device includes a tray storage unit 2 that can store the screw supply trays (component supply trays 1) in a stacked form, and a component extraction unit that supplies the screws 1a on the screw supply tray 1 to the screw tightener. 8
And a horizontal transport unit 3 that horizontally transports the screw supply tray 1 from the tray storage unit 2 to the component removal unit 8.

The screw supply tray 1 is, as shown in FIG.
The support legs 1c are fixed to the four corners of the plate-shaped body 1b. A large number of screw holding holes 1d for inserting and holding the screws 1a are formed in the plate-shaped main body portion 1b, and further positioning holes 1e are formed at appropriate places. Further, the support leg 1c has a fitting hole 1f that opens toward the lower end, and is fixed to the plate-shaped main body portion 1b using a fastener 1g. The fitting hole 1f is formed in such a size that the head of the fastener 1g can be fitted therein, and the screw feed tray 1 has the head of the fastener 1g fitted into the fitting hole 1f of another screw feed tray 1. Can be laminated by fitting to.

As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of screw supply trays 1 formed as described above are stored in a tray storage portion 2 of the screw supply device in a stacked state. Tray storage 2
Is divided into an upper supply unit 6 and a lower recovery unit 7, and a horizontal transport unit 3 is arranged between the supply unit 6 and the recovery unit 7. Guide struts 9 formed of L-shaped channel members for guiding the four corners of the screw feed tray 1 are provided upright in the supply unit 6 and the recovery unit 7, and the lowermost stage of the supply unit 6 is directed inward. A tray separating claw (separating means 5) that is driven forward and backward is arranged. Further, an elevating bottom wall 4 capable of ascending / descending is arranged at the bottom of the collecting section 7 of the tray accommodating section 2, and a tray sensor 10 is provided at a pitch corresponding to the height of the screw supply tray 1.

The horizontal transport section 3 has a guide section 3a extending from the tray storage section 2 to the side of the component take-out section 8 and a tray holding section 3b. The tray holding portion 3b has an opening through which the screw supply tray 1 can be inserted, and a tray support claw 3c that advances and retracts in the opening.

The component take-out section 8 has an elevating table 8b, and a positioning projection 8c is provided on the table surface so as to project upward.

Next, the operation of the screw supply device configured as described above will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 3, when the screw supply tray 1 is supplied to the supply unit 6, the tray separating claw 5
Is in a projecting state, the bottom surface of the screw feeding tray 1 at the lowermost stage is supported by the tray separating claw 5, and a plurality of screw feeding trays 1, 1 ... Are stacked on the upper side thereof by the height dimension of the supporting legs 1c. It

The screw feeding tray 1 is sequentially fed from the lowest position in the feeding section 6 to the horizontal conveying section 3 using the elevating bottom wall 4, and when feeding to the horizontal conveying section 3, first, the screw feeding tray 1 is moved up and down. The bottom wall 4 is driven to rise, and the lowest screw feed tray 1 is supported on the elevating bottom wall 4. The raising and lowering of the elevating bottom wall 4 is performed until the screw supply tray 1 separates from the separation claw 5, and then the tray separation claw 5 of the supply unit 6 is retracted (see FIG. 5A). After that, as shown in FIG. 5B, the elevating bottom wall 4 is lowered so that the back surface of the second-stage screw supply tray 1 from the bottom is located slightly above the tray separating claw 5, and the tray separating claw 5 is again formed. And the second screw feed tray 1 from the bottom is supported by the tray separating claw 5.

After that, when the elevating bottom wall 4 is lowered, the screw feeding tray 1 at the second stage from the bottom is not supported because it is supported by the tray separating claws 5, and only the screw feeding tray 1 at the lowermost stage is lowered. Is lowered to the tray holding portion 3b of the horizontal transport portion 3, and the lowest screw feed tray 1 is separated. After separating the lowermost screw supply tray 1, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 (b), the tray supporting claw 3c of the tray holding portion 3b is driven to project to support the lowermost screw supply tray 1 and move up and down. The bottom wall 4 descends to the recovery unit 7. Horizontal transport section 3
When a sensor (not shown) arranged in the position detects this state, the horizontal conveyance section 3 is driven to convey the screw supply tray 1 to the component take-out section 8 side.

FIG. 6A shows a state in which the tray holding portion 3b is conveyed onto the component take-out portion 8. When the screw supply tray 1 is conveyed in this manner, as shown in FIG. 6B.
The elevating table 8b of the component take-out section 8 is driven upward. The lifting table 8b is inserted through the opening of the tray holding portion 3b and penetrates from the back surface side to the upper surface side of the tray holding portion 3b, and the positioning projection 8c is provided on the ascending path so that the positioning projection 8c is provided.
The screw supply tray 1 is positioned by being fitted into the positioning hole 1e of 1., and in this state, the screw 1a is supplied to the screw 1a tightening machine.

A deceleration mechanism (not shown) is accommodated in the component take-out portion 8, and the positioning protrusion 8 is provided in the positioning hole 1e of the tray 1.
The rising speed of the lifting table 8b immediately before c is fitted is reduced, the impact on the tray 1 is relieved, and the tray mounting screw can be prevented from falling off. A cam mechanism or the like can be used as the reduction mechanism.

When all the screws 1a on the screw supply tray 1 have been used, the lifting table 8b of the component take-out section 8 is again used.
And the empty tray 1'is supported by the tray supporting claws 3c of the tray holding section 3b and the tray separating claws 5 and conveyed to the tray storing section 2. When the empty tray 1 ′ is conveyed to the tray storage part 2, first, as shown in FIG. 7A, the elevating bottom wall 4 of the tray storage part 2 is driven to rise, and the empty tray 1 is placed on the elevating bottom wall 4. 'Is placed, the tray supporting claw 3c is stopped at a position apart from the empty tray 1'tray supporting claw 3c, and the tray supporting claw 3c is retracted. Further, the elevating bottom wall 4 is driven upward to drive the empty tray 1 '.
Place the second and subsequent screw supply trays 1 on the tray, and stop when the tray 1 is separated from the tray separating claws 5.
To evacuate.

After that, as shown in FIG. 7B, the elevating bottom wall 4 is lowered, and the tray separating claw 5 of the tray accommodating portion 2 is projected at a position where the tray of the third stage can be locked. further,
By lowering the elevating bottom wall 4, the third stage tray is supported on the tray separating claw 5, and further, the elevating bottom wall 4 is lowered to hold the second stage tray at a position where it can be locked. When the tray support claw 3c of the portion 3b is projected and then the elevating bottom wall 4 is lowered to the lower end position, as shown in FIG. 7C, only the empty tray 1'is collected in the collecting portion 7, The second-stage tray 1 supported and held in the tray holding portion 3b can be conveyed to the component taking-out portion 8.

In this state, the fact that one empty tray 1'is accommodated in the collecting section 7 means that the tray sensor 10
The amount of rise of the elevating bottom wall 4 that is driven when separating the component-supplied trays and the like is determined based on the number of empty trays 1 ′ detected by the tray sensor 10. Further, the tray sensor 10 is configured to output a full signal urging the tray to be taken out when the number of empty trays 1 ′ in the collection unit 7 reaches a predetermined number. Also,
Even if the empty tray 1 ′ is taken out before it is full, the number of trays can be known by the sensor 10, and the subsequent operation is continued. Further, the supply unit 6 is provided with a sensor that detects and outputs the presence / absence of a tray in the supply unit 6.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which all the trays 1 in which all the parts have been supplied are used up as described above.
The empty tray 1 ′ in the inside is taken out to the outside by opening the door 11, the screw 1 a is attached to the screw holding hole 1 d, and the empty tray 1 ′ is loaded into the supply unit 6 again.

It should be noted that, depending on the degree of freedom of the parts take-out section 8 and the robot on the side where parts are supplied, it may be one that can only be moved up and down, or one that can be moved in the XY axis directions. In this case, if the component take-out portion 8 is configured to be horizontally driven in the arrangement direction of the components held on the tray 1, for example, after picking up the component at the position indicated by the black circle A in FIG. The other part (B) on the tray can be moved to the pickup position by only horizontally driving it by the inter-pitch (px). As a result, it is not necessary to drive the screw tightening machine or the pickup robot from the A position to the B position, so that the structure of the screw tightening machine is simplified and the number of joints can be reduced. The rigidity of the screw tightener is increased and the work accuracy is improved.

Further, in the above description, the supply device for supplying the screw to the screw tightening machine has been shown, but if it is a component to be supplied while being held on the tray, other than the screw, for example, a filter, etc. It can also be used to supply.

[0025]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the structure is simple and the space can be saved. Further, since the parts can be supplied at any time, work efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a tray storage unit.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a screw supply tray, (a) is a plan view,
4B is a sectional view taken along line 4B-4B in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a component supply operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation of a component take-out section.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing collection of empty trays.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing removal of an empty tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Parts supply tray 2 tray storage 3 Horizontal transport section 4 Lifting bottom wall 5 Separation means 6 supply section 7 Collection Department

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 3C030 AA12 AA15 DA28 DA37                 3F030 AA09 AB03 CA01 CB03 CC02                       DA01 DC02 EA01 EB01 FA01                 5E313 AA23 AA31 AA32 CC04 DD01                       DD02 DD03 DD22 DD50 FG02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A tray storage unit capable of storing component supply trays for holding components in a stacked form, a horizontal transport unit disposed at a predetermined height position of the tray storage unit, and horizontally movable, and a tray storage unit. It has an elevating bottom wall that can be moved up and down, which forms the bottom wall of the tray, and a separating means that separates the component supply tray in the horizontal transport unit from other component supply trays located in the upper stage. A component supply device that horizontally conveys a component supply tray to be conveyed that has been moved up and down to the horizontal conveyance unit to the predetermined position in the horizontal conveyance unit. 2. The tray accommodating portion comprises a tray feeding portion for holding a component having an upper portion with a horizontal conveying portion as a boundary.
The component supply device according to claim 1, wherein the empty tray collecting unit is disposed below the empty tray collecting unit. 3. The component supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a tray sensor capable of counting the number of empty trays in the collecting section is installed in the collecting section of the empty tray. 4. A component take-out section that pushes up a component feed tray conveyed in the horizontal conveyance section to separate the component supply tray from the horizontal conveyance section, and the component take-out section is provided on the component supply tray. The component supply device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is horizontally movable in the arrangement direction of the retained components.